In an announcement on Friday, the Indiana Health officials said, Scott County in their state, had a significant number of increase in HIV cases. According to the state health official, the number of HIV cases increased in the county after the short term needle exchange program was introduced two weeks ago.
In a statement health officials confirmed that there are 120 new confirmed cases of HIV in Scott County, 30 miles north of Louisville, Kentucky. It was previously reported that there were 106 number of cases of HIV in the county. The health officials said, they are expecting the number to go up as they are testing more people. Last month the State Governor Mike Pence declared an epidemic and ordered a month long needle exchange program on 26th March. Experts are asking for more time and extension of the needle exchange program.
In a statement the spokesperson for Governor Pence, Kara Brooks said, he is reviewing the detailed report and recommendations from experts and will make a decision next week about extending the needle exchange program. According to the health officials, in Scott County HIV became epidemic after drug users began using the high powered painkiller Opana. The state typically had 5 HIV cases in a year. Health officials said, after the approval of needle exchange program they had given 5,322 clean syringes among 86 participants. It was reported that the needle exchange program is in full swing after mobile units were travelling in different neighborhoods and trying to get more IV drug users into the program. Health experts said, the success of the program depends on the continuation of the needle exchange program.
Pence also received a positive response from across the board about his needle exchange program. In a statement Senate President David Long said, the emergency needle exchange program was the right choice, but he also mentioned that, it is not the right approach for long term. Long also said that, he is not sure that, the Senate would support a legislation which will allow 23 Indiana County to introduce their own needle exchange program. According to the health officials, Indiana has the highest rate-per-population of Hepatitis C cases. The Center for Diseases Control and Prevention previously reported that 90% people with Hepatitis C are also get infected with HIV. CDC said, the government has to take necessary steps to control such high rate of conversion. But they also warned that lawmakers also have to consider that needle exchange program might increase drug users.
